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Abstract

In recent years, a second generation of Web-based technologies have as “Web 2.0” At the core of Web 2.0 are web-based services, social networking and online collaborative functions. Forestry, like other disciplines, has the potential to take advantage of these technologies to alter or change the way traditional interaction between forestry professionals and other interested parties is undertaken. This dissertation explores the use of Web 2.0 and social networking technologies in two domains: (1) eBusiness and (2) Urban Ecology. The thesis is designed to provide essentially two chapters that stand on their own, and describe the background and the design and development of two Web 2.0 online systems. The eBusiness chapter of this thesis includes the research on the applicability of the online community model for today’s forest sector electronic businesses-to-business platforms. The Urban Ecology chapter consists of the research how data integration along with a “content management system” designed for a social network website can be exploited to improve collaboration among geographically distant researchers, policy makers and other stakeholders interested in Urban Ecology. In addition to the text in this dissertation, a “supplement” to this dissertation are two computer systems and databases that the author developed over the course of 2006-2007.